A triple murder probe was launched last Saturday after their businessman father Tommy died in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Mrs Sharkey, 46, also suffered serious burns and has been sedated in the same hospital while recovering from the horror attack at their flat.

Police said yesterday that she had at last been told the terrible news about her family.

Angela Sharkey was made aware of the tragic outcome of the fire

The development came as two new images of the family were issued by police to generate fresh leads on the killer, who it is thought may have been involved in a feud with the family.

A photograph taken while they enjoyed a trip to Florida features Mrs Sharkey and her two children, while a picture of Mr Sharkey attending a wedding was also released.

Margaret McKechnie, sister of Mrs Sharkey, mentioned the trip to Florida, which took place just a few weeks ago, during an appeal last month.

She said that relatives held the memories of the happy times the children enjoyed on the trip “in their hearts” as they struggled to cope with their deaths. On Wednesday, officers also appealed for partygoers who had attended houses nearby on the night of the fire to contact them.

Officers said they had received “speculation and second-hand information” but what they now needed were “hard facts”.

Police have said they think that someone may be shielding the culprit, who may be linked to Mr Sharkey senior’s troubled past. He was arrested in the 1990s for drugs offences.

Investigations are continuing into a fire last year at a pub in Helensburgh that Mr Sharkey senior was connected with and into an alleged incident in which he was stabbed. Last night a Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said appeals had continued because of the lack of quality information. She said: “There have been several appeals but we are still looking for more information, and we would urge anyone to come forward if they have any of that information.”

Mr Sharkey senior was brought out of a drug-induced coma to be told about the deaths of his children.

His condition later deteriorated and he died.

A £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the killer is being offered by Crimestoppers.